The Jammu and Kashmir Police’s State Investigation Agency (SIA) has secured an Interpol Red Corner Notice (RCN) against designated Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo alias Fayaz alias Sajad in connection with the 2013 attack that left four Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel dead.
Police said the issuance of the Red Corner Notice will facilitate international law enforcement agencies in locating, detaining, and initiating legal proceedings for the extradition of the accused to India to face trial.
The case pertains to the terrorist ambush on April 26, 2013 at Peer Mohalla, Hygam, Sopore in north Kashmir, where terrorists armed with automatic weapons attacked a police party, resulting in the killing of four Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel in one of the most serious terrorist strikes against security forces during that period.
The case was initially registered at Police Station Tarzoo, Sopore, and it was transferred to SIA Kashmir in 2024 for a comprehensive investigation.
Police said following an extensive investigation involving meticulous collection and analysis of evidence, examination of witnesses, and reconstruction of the conspiracy, SIA Kashmir successfully completed the investigation, added more offences on the basis of fresh evidence and filed a comprehensive chargesheet before the competent trial court in July 2024 against six accused persons.
During the course of investigation and subsequent operations, two accused—Tariq Ahmad Mir of Kalamabad, Handwara and Qayoom Najar of Batapora, Sopore—were eliminated in encounters with security forces, while Javid Ahmad Mattoo of Sopore, Rouf Najar of Sopore, and Ahmadullah Malla of Dalal Mohalla, Srinagar have been arrested and are facing trial.
The sixth and the main accused, Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo, is absconding and is believed to have exfiltrated to Pakistan, police said.
A resident of Kraltang, Sopore, Imtiyaz Kandoo has been an active member and commander of the proscribed terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen since 2010. Owing to his sustained involvement in terrorist activities, he was notified as a Designated Individual Terrorist by Government of India in October, 2022.
Police said the investigation conducted by SIA Kashmir conclusively established Kandoo’s active and main role in the Hygam terrorist attack and uncovered his involvement in a wider network of terrorist activities. Besides the present case, he is wanted in at least ten more terror-related cases involving terrorist attacks, targeted killings resulting in the deaths of more than 15 persons, arms and ammunition smuggling, and narco- terror financing.
Despite sustained efforts by law enforcement agencies, he had continued to evade arrest.
